I was diagnosing a steering issue on my 1995 F150 4x4, and decided that I needed to replace the steering gear. In the process of diagnosing it, while I was checking the rag joint, I grabbed the joint and started twisting it back and forth rapidly. I felt something farther up in the steering column have some play in it (in addition to the excessive play in the gear). My truck is not tilt wheel. Does anybody, off the wall, know what could be under the steering wheel, that could be causing this issue?

 

Does the steering wheel rock on the column (up/down or left/right)?

 

No. As a matter of fact, all I felt before was loose steering and vehicle wandering. When I was checking out the rag joint, I just happened to twist it back and forth rapidly. When I was doing that, I felt something farther up the column slap around a little bit. I could tell that it was not up or down, or left to right. It was rotational. For example, if I was to have someone hold the rag joint stationary while I was turning the steering wheel, the steering wheel would turn, to some degree, left to right. Is there supposed to be some kind of clearance? That doesn't sound feasible. Is there a universal joint in there somewhere?

 

Not the best picture, but this should be right for your vehicle.

There's a U-joint 38676 and a the "rag joint" coupling right above the steering gearbox.

The only reason I asked about wheel wobble was because I suspected bad bearings right below the steering wheel, which apparently is common in the series right after the bricknose Fords.

 

All I can figure out, the play would be where the safety telescoping mechanism is. One shaft fits inside an outer part and will slide inside in case you have a collision so the steering wheel doesn't crush you.

The shaft on my '94, should be like you '95, is all covered with plastic and rubber so I couldn't tell much. On my '88 the inner shaft is D shaped with the shaft being flat on the right side if the D also. The outer part of the telescope(so to speak) should be the same shape and fit tight around the inner shaft but still slide if necessary.

I have heard of these being loose and having play as you describe. That would be my best guess as to your problem.

 

What if I wanted to change it to tilt wheel? Is it as simple as swapping the upper half of the steering column, from the U-joint up?

 

I think you have to change the whole column. Also believe some of the LTD/Galaxy500/Marquis columns will fit, not sure what years, but that would be the cheapest way. The truck columns have gotten pricey since people are keeping them on the road.